The University of Edinburgh’s Institute for Imaging, Data, and Communications (IDCOM) is pioneering a transformative project in optical wireless networking. Led by Muhammad Nafees, Majid Safari, and John Thompson, this…
The University of Edinburgh’s Institute for Imaging, Data, and Communications (IDCOM) is pioneering a transformative project in optical wireless networking. Led by Muhammad Nafees, Majid Safari, and John Thompson, this project introduces an Optical Integrated Sensing and Communication (O-ISAC) framework designed to tackle the challenges of signal-dependent noise and optimise the balance between capacity and distortion in optical wireless systems.
The O-ISAC framework integrates feedback into the optical backhaul link, enhancing operational parameters and allowing for dynamic adjustments to aerial vehicle trajectories to ensure optimal performance. This innovative approach is demonstrated through a proof-of-concept using an access point equipped with a Single-Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD) array. This setup performs high-precision optical sensing and data exchange with mobile user equipment, utilising flash light detection and ranging (LiDAR) principles for accurate real-time localisation. The project showcases O-ISAC’s potential to improve both communication and sensing in dynamic settings.
The research has successfully formulated an ISAC framework for optical wireless systems, effectively addressing signal-dependent noise and identifying an optimal capacity-distortion balance. This advancement enhances communication and sensing capabilities, providing practical solutions to key challenges in wireless communication. The integration of a feedback-enabled optical backhaul link allows for precise optimisation of operational parameters, improving aerial vehicle trajectories and enabling robust data exchange and localisation. The project demonstrates a successful proof-of-concept for an optical ISAC design using a SPAD-equipped access point, achieving high-precision, real-time target localisation and simultaneous data exchange. This breakthrough promises to transform urban environments by developing more efficient, adaptive, and reliable communication and sensing networks in the optical domain.
The ISAC framework developed can significantly impact industries by enhancing the precision and efficiency of wireless networks and autonomous systems, particularly in challenging environments. This advancement benefits sectors like telecommunications and autonomous vehicle technology. The research could also influence policy by providing insights that guide policymakers in spectrum management and smart city planning, promoting the adoption and safe deployment of optical wireless communication technologies. Additionally, the advancements in communication and sensing technologies offer societal benefits, including improved public safety and enhanced consumer electronics through more reliable connectivity and accurate location-based services, ultimately enhancing the quality of life in urban settings. Moreover, collaboration with telecommunications companies through industry partnerships can facilitate the implementation of O-ISAC frameworks, leading to the development of new industry standards and innovative products that meet the growing demand for high-data-rate and low-latency services using optical wireless technologies.
The next steps for the research involve comprehensive real-world testing to refine the O-ISAC framework’s performance in various dynamic environments. The team plans to produce short demonstration videos to highlight findings from their experimental work in indoor scenarios. In the future, they foresee their work significantly enhancing indoor and outdoor localisation technologies, leading to improved precision in communication and sensing capabilities and better connectivity within complex scenarios.
The research is a part of TITAN Lighthouse Project 3: Optical Wireless Networks Integration. Lighthouse Project 3 (LP3) focuses on optical wireless networks integration. By integrating optical wireless technologies into existing communication networks, this research paves the way for faster, more secure, and highly reliable data transmission.
If you have any questions about the research discussed in this article, please contact titan-enquiries@eng.cam.ac.uk.
